2005 Nissan PATHFINDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,050 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
90,048 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 955 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 450 of 1,050 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 636 | 60.6% |
| Engine operation | 90 | 8.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 75 | 7.1% |
| Braking behavior | 42 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 23 | 2.2% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 450 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 171 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 167 |
| Engine | 144 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 138 |
| Electrical System | 65 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 64 |
| Unknown Or Other | 40 |
Power Train: 450; Engine And Engine Cooling: 171; Fuel System, Gasoline: 167; Engine: 144; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 138; Electrical System: 65; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 64; Unknown Or Other: 40
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 26 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 56 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 206 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 290 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 318 |
| 150,000 and above | 59 |
Under 25,000: 26; 25,000 to 49,999: 56; 50,000 to 74,999: 206; 75,000 to 99,999: 290; 100,000 to 149,999: 318; 150,000 and above: 59
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (318). 95 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 28 |
| 2009 | 45 |
| 2010 | 259 |
| 2011 | 120 |
| 2012 | 157 |
| 2013 | 132 |
| 2014 | 86 |
| 2015 | 70 |
| 2016 | 55 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 10; 2006: 12; 2007: 11; 2008: 28; 2009: 45; 2010: 259; 2011: 120; 2012: 157; 2013: 132; 2014: 86; 2015: 70; 2016: 55; 2017: 20; 2018: 18; 2019: 7; 2020: 7; 2021: 5; 2022: 2; 2023: 3; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 636 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 90 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 75 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10145496 · 2005-12-16 (December 16, 2005)
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, I STARTED TO NOTICE A PROBLEM ON MY FIRST ROAD TRIP WHILE OUT ON ROUTE 95 GOING TO PHILADELPHIA. THE VEHICLE BECOMES VERY HARD TO CONTROL WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS AT 55-65 MPH ESPECIALLY GOING AROUND LONG SWEEPING TURNS. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE AND THE VEHICLE WANT TO SHIFT INTO THE OTHER LANE PENDING ON THE TYPE OF TURN (LEFT OR RIGHT HAND). NO LUCK AFTER THREE SERVICE VISITS AND MANY PHONE CALLS TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA. CONTACTED ATTORNEY AND I AM PURSUING IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243688 · 2008-09-23 (September 23, 2008)
COURTESY COPY OF A LETTER FROM CONSUMERS WRITTEN TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA RE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE WERE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION HAD A WHISTLE UP SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THE TIRES WERE FEATHERED AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED, THE DOOR PANELS CREAKED, THE BRAKES MADE A CLICKING NOISE, THE DRIVE BELTS WERE REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF A NOISE THE CONSUMER HEARD, THE PLASTIC FINISHER ON THE RUNNING BOARDS KEPT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10243688 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10272770 · 2009-06-03 (June 3, 2009)
CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 103,920 miles reported. Look up ODI 10272770 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10284002 · 2009-09-15 (September 15, 2009)
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING,LOSING POWER, AND WON'T RESTART UNTIL MINUTES LATER. THIS PROBLEM RECURS,INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE DAY. TOOK CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER. DEALER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE MALFUNCTION WHILE CAR WAS ON THE SELF-DIAG ,RESULTS WAS : INTERNAL FAILURE @ IPDM.[ECM LOSES POWER SUPPLY FROM IPDM.] REMOVED AND REPLACED PART ; DAT 284B7-ZC00A [CONTROLLER UNIT.] ALSO REQUEST BG FUEL INDUCTION FLUSHING SERVICE. TOTAL COST $531.00 VEHICLE PERFORMS GOOD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 97,651 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143438 · 2005-11-22 (November 22, 2005)
MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER LE HAS A LOUD SQUEAK/VIBRATION COMING FROM THE UNDERBODY. DEALER (RAMSEY NISSAN - RAMSEY, NJ) HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SOURCE OF THE LOUD SQUEAK/VIBRATION IS DUE TO THE CHANGE IN DESIGN FOR THE "FUEL PUMP SPRING ASSEMBLY". APPARENTLY, THE 2004 PATHFINDER HAD A 2 SPRING DESIGN WHICH WAS CHANGED TO A 1 SPRING DESIGN IN 2005. ONCE THE FUEL TANK BECOMES PRESSURIZED (CAR RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES), A LOUD, CONSTANT, AND OBTRUSIVE SQUEAK/VIBRATION COMES FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. TO DATE, NISSAN DOES NOT HAVE A FI…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153963 · 2006-03-29 (March 29, 2006)
MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE HAS A LOUD SQUEAK/VIBRATION COMING FROM THE UNDERBODY, THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN COMPLAINT NUMBER 10143438. I TOO, HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE SOURCE OF THE LOUD SQUEAK/VIBRATION IS FROM THE FUEL TANK/FUEL PUMP DESIGN. RECENTLY, I HAVE BEEN INFORMED (AS OF TWO WEEKS AGO) THAT THE TECH PEOPLE OF NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA IN CALIFORNIA HAVE YET TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY UNDER WARRANTY, I HAVE ALSO FOUND DEALING WITH THE NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER TO BE DIFFICULT AS, UNLIKE LO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10153963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105461 · 2005-01-26 (January 26, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING BELOW 25 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION TWICE. THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. A WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD THE SAME LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10105461 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147243 · 2006-01-09 (January 9, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED 2 TO 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS APPARENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE OR THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WOULD BE A NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING BROKEN IN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES, AND ON THE FINAL TIME A PAD KIT WAS REPLACED. THE NOISE CAME BACK APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK LATER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176618 · 2006-12-19 (December 19, 2006)
WITH JUST 64,585 MILES ON MY 2005 PATHFINDER LE I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A SOMETIMES DIS-FUNCTIONAL GAS GAUGE. WHILE TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE WIRING HARNESS RECALL, THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE CODE AND DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FUEL SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY---ESTIMATED PART COST OF $420.00! SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 60,000 MILES THE PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE CODE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS THE STATE REQUIRED EMISSIONS T…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,585 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10291220 · 2009-11-06 (November 6, 2009)
THE IPDM/ER (FUSE AND RELAY BOX) FAILED ON OUR NISSAN PATHFINDER IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. THE CAR JUST SHUTDOWN, ALL ELECTRICAL FAILED. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, IT TURNS OUT ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING WITH TITAN NISSAN TRUCKS. THE CAR SHUTTING OFF RANDOMLY CAN BE DEADLY! IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SCARIEST THINGS TO HAPPEN WITH YOUR KIDS IN THE CAR. THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER FOR THIS PART FROM NISSAN WHICH PROVES THAT THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC PROBLEM AND NISSAN SHOULD MAKES TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291220 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10257389 · 2009-02-04 (February 4, 2009)
I HIT THE REAR END OF A VEHICLE THAT WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED. MY AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. MY FOREHEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10257389 at NHTSA ↗